92 The Under-Water World 



geese, retain the head portion in the 

 form of a tough, leathery stalk, six to 

 ten inches in length, which attaches 

 them to some solid matter usually 

 floating timber. 



The sea-lice force themselves on our 

 notice in different ways. Some are 

 parasitic upon fishes, whilst others do 

 immense damage to timber. One form 

 (Limnoria), which resembles a miniature 

 wood-louse, has proved a regular scourge 

 to man, especially in the old days before 

 the general use of iron and concrete. It 

 rendered our large ships unseaworthy, 

 driving deep tunnels one-tenth of an 

 inch in diameter into the solid oak, whilst 

 in recent years it has been found boring 

 into the insulated coverings of submarine 

 cables at a depth of nearly 300 fathoms. 

 The creature swallows and digests the 

 wood which it gnaws, but it is not 

 known whether it ever partakes of any 

 other form of food. 



